Inclinometer for aeroplanes



N. w. SPENCER. INCLINOMETER FOR AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, I920.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

N. W. SPENCER. INCLINOMETER FOR AEROPLANES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13. I920.

1,399,090. Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 13, 1920. Serial No. 403,349.

following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an inclinometer for aeroplanes, the principal object beingtoprovide a simple and reliable device for lnd eating whether or not the aeroplane is flying upright or otherwise. In cloudy or foggy weather the pilot experiences difficulty n ascertaining whether the aerial inachlne 1S upright, tilted, or even upside down, and because of the pilots inability to determine his position accidents and uneven wear on the motor pistons, and other moving parts, occur which it is the aim of the present invention to obviate. v

The invention therefore consists in the features of construction, and the arrange-- ments and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 isa front elevation of the 11nproved inclinometer;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse section therethrough on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, with portions removed; and

Fig. 4 is a top view thereof.

The body 1 is suitably supported on a base 2 and is supplemented by front section or face plate 3 in forming therewith a sectional casing or housing for the indicator devices. Both sections are substantially identical above the base 2, consisting of dished shell structures having central, registering openings 4 and concentric segmental, registering slots 5 thereover, said openings and slots constituting sight openings for viewing the indicators hereinafter described. The two sections are secured together along their upper edges by the lug 6 engaging in slot 7 and at their lower edges by screws 8.

Supported within the central openings is a globular or spherical glass container 9 having a filling neck 10 depending between the casing sections and being closed by a stopper 11. This, container is partly filled with a non-freezing liquid 12, in which floats an indicator- 13 preferably hollow and weighted by a small quantity of mercury 1a. This construction presents, on each side, a spheroidal segment clearly open to view with afree'space above the liquid content through which the upper end ofthe indicator projects. also be viewed through the liquid,the latter serving as alens for enlarging the same to the eye. Anarcuate dial 15 is'interposed between thesight openings of the face plate to facilitate the reading ofthe angle of inclination of the machine, the lower portion of the face plate providing a suitable mounting for a'thermometer 16.

An arcuatetube 17 is located in the slots 5 andcontains a liquid providing a level air bubble 18 for further determining the inclination ofthe machine;

In assembling the parts the two indicators Patented Dec. 6, i921.

In fact the indicator can are arranged in the sight openings of the body'l'and thesurrounding space filled with plaster Paris, or other cement 19 after whichthe face plate issecured in position. lower portion of the casing forms a chamber 20 through which the Y stopper 11 i is acces- The sible. 1

The construction is simple and easily read an imaginary diametral line parallel with the indicator will readily aid in determining the degree marking on the dial.

What is claimed is 1. An inclinometer for aeroplanes, comprising a casing consisting of supplemental sections having registering central and relative concentric sight openings, an arcuate bubble indicator disposed in the concentric sight openings, a second indicator engaged in the central sight openings and an arcuate dial between and common to both indicators.

2. An inclinometer for aeroplanes, comprising a sectional casing, said sections having registering sight openings, a spherical, transparent container of greater diameter than that off'the openings engaged in the openings, so as to be held by the sections and to project outwardly from the latter, a liquid in the container, and an indicator floated within the container.

3. In an aeroplane inclinometer, a pair of plates having registering central openings and registering concentric segmental slots above the openings, a spherical glass contransparent container engaged in the casing openings, said container having a filling neck depending between the casing sections and normally closed, a liquid within the container, an indicator within the container floated by the liquid, a second indicator concentrically arranged about the first indicator and a cementitious filler in the casing between the container and second indicator and above the latter for securing the container and second indicator in position.

' 5. An inclinometer for aeroplanes,-comprising a sectional casing having openings, a plurality of indicator means clamped in position by the edges defining the openings of the sections of said casing, and means removably holding the sectionstogether.

6. In an aeroplane inclinometer, a pair of spaced plates having central registering openings and registering curved slots, in-

dicator means including a globular member arrangedin the openings and a second indicator means including an arcuate member arranged in the slots, the indicators being of greater diameter than the diameter and widths of the slots respectively so as to be held by and between the plates and to project outwardly beyond the. latter.

7. In an"'aeroplane inclinometer, a pair of spaced plates having central registering openings and registering curved slots, indicator means including a globular member arranged in the openings and a second indicator means including an arcuate member arranged in the slots, the indicator members being of greater diameter than the diameter and widths of the slots respectively so as to be heldby and between the plates and to project outwardly beyond the latter and a cementitious filler in the casing between the indicator members and between the upper indicator member and the tops of the plates. 1 55 8. In an aeroplaneinclinometer, a hollow spherical container having a liquid therein, an elongated lndlcator 1n the container weighted at its lower end and freely'floating in the liquid and having its outer end extending above therliquid, and a curved member arranged above the container and having its ends terminating in spaced relationto each other and arranged on opposite sides of the container so that upon reversal of the container the outer end of the indicator will be disposed in aplane between the ends of the curved member. a

9. In an aeroplaneinclinometer, a pair of spaced plates having central re istering openings, and indicator means including a globular member of greater diameter than said openings arranged in the openings to project outwardly from the plates.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NOAL W. SPENCER. 

